An estimated 264,000 pupils in state-funded schools were off school last Thursday for Covid-related reasons - 32 per cent more than the week before.

The figures equate to 3.3 per cent of all state school pupils, compared with the previous week’s 2.5 per cent.

Of the 264,000 pupils off school for Covid-related reasons, 173,000 were self-isolating due to potential contact with a case of coronavirus in school, new figures from the Department for Education reveal.

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This was an increase on the previous week’s 127,000 pupils.

Covid school absences: The latest figures

The proportion of those self-isolating due to a possible Covid case outside of school was more stable: it was 0.5 per cent on 18 March, and it has risen to 0.6 per cent on 25 March, for a total of 47,000 pupils.

On 25 March, 9,000 pupils had a confirmed case of the coronavirus - up from 7,000 - while the suspected cases were 28,000 - up from 21,000.

A total of 7,000 pupils were unable to attend because their school was closed due to Covid-19 - up from 4,000.